Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 2023 BMW X5 M

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ8 and X5 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5 M’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ8 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X5 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ8 and the X5 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi SQ8 is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	SQ8	X5 M
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	34%
Neck Stress	235 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	14 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	82/59 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	238	342
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	35%
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	47/47 lbs.	527/418 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi SQ8 is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	SQ8	X5 M
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	72
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	260 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	282	308
Hip Force	593 lbs.	796 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Engine

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M’s standard 4.4 turbo V8. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better mileage than the X5 M:

			MPG
SQ8
	AWD	4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/20 hwy
X5 M
	AWD	4.4 turbo V8	13 city/18 hwy
		Competition 4.4 turbo V8	13 city/18 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the SQ8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X5 M:

	SQ8	X5 M
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X5 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches in the front and 22-inches in the rear.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the SQ8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5 M, which uses coil springs in front. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The SQ8’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the SQ8’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the X5 M’s (41 feet vs. 42 feet).

Passenger Space

The SQ8 has 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5 M.

Cargo Capacity

The SQ8’s cargo area is larger than the X5 M’s in almost every dimension:

	SQ8	X5 M
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41.1”/75.4”	40.7”/70”
Max Width	54”	49”
Min Width	39.8”	44”
Height	29”	31.5”

The SQ8’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 M’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Towing

The SQ8 has a 7700 lbs. towing capacity. The X5 M has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X5 M doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X5 M.

The SQ8 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X5 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Economic Advantages

The SQ8 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SQ8 will retain 51.44% to 52% of its original price after five years, while the X5 M only retains 45.35%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi SQ8 will be $11943 to $16923 less than for the BMW X5 M.

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